Hello Everyone,

April 10, 2010 found us at the Lancaster Host Resort in Lancaster, PA for the 9th Annual Spring Meeting and Benefit Auction. The meeting was well attended and the highlight of the program was a visit from PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Reading. The Benefit Auction grossed just over $50,000.00 for our general operating fund and the PAC Fund brought in $34,522.00. Many thanks go out to Kelly Pittenger and all the board members and volunteers that worked so hard to make the day a success. I also want to thank all of you that donated items for the auction and those came to bid on them. The PAC or Political Action Fund also hit its goal and I want to thank everyone who sold raffle tickets and helped with the effort. The money in our PAC is very important to our efforts in Harrisburg and gives us the clout we need to support the legislators that support our industry.

It takes a tremendous amount of work over 12 months to do all that is needed to run our Association and address all the issues facing the industry. I am convinced that without the Association and it's presence in Harrisburg we all would have been put out of business a long time ago. The important thing to remember is that much of what we accomplish is done through the volunteered time of the Board of Directors and other hard working members. Here is just a list of the major issues we worked on in the last year:

• FORMED THE HUNTING RANCH COUNCIL TO ASSIST OUR PA HUNTING RANCHES WITH SPECIFIC ISSUES. THIS PAST YEAR IT WORKED WITH THE PA DEPARTMENT OF AG ON THE BOAR ISSUE. THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL IS MIKE GEE-TIOGA HUNTING PRESERVE.

• CONTINUED TO FOLLOW THE PA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUES NEW SALES TAX CHARGE ON DEER FEEDS. MILLIRON AND ASSOCIATES ARE WORKING WITH KEY LEGISLATORS TO CREATE THE FARM EXEMPTION AND THUS ELIMINATE THE TAX AND COST TO OUR FARMS.

• WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH PA DEPARTMENT OF AG TO REOPEN THE NEW YORK BORDER TO THE MOVEMENT OF DEER SOLD TO NEW YORK. THE BORDER WAS CLOSED THE DAY OF THE 2009 FALL SALE.

• THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD RESPONDED TO THE RECENT BUDGET CUTS TO THE PA BUDGET, AS IT THREATENED THE INDUSTRIES CWD SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM. AFTER MANY MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT THE CWD PROGRAM WAS SAVED.

• MILLIRON AND ASSOCIATES ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH KEY LEGISLATORS TO PASS A BILL TO CREATE A $75.00 CLO FEE TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF OUR CWD PROGRAMS.

•THE ASSOCIATION ASSISTED TWO PA HUNTING RANCHES WITH LOCAL ZONING AND APPROVAL ISSUES.

• THE ASSOCIATION MADE A $7,500.00 PLEDGE TO NADEFA TO SUPPORT THIER NATIONAL LOBBYING EFFORTS IN WASHINGTON.

• PLEDGED $5,000.00 TO THE NORTH DAKOTA DEER FARMERS TO FIGHT PETA.

• PLEDGED $ 5,000.00 TO THE NEW JERSEY DEER FARMERS TO HELP WITH THEIR EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE THEIR ASSOCIATION.

• PLEDGED $5,000.00 TO THE CERVID LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION TO CONTINUE RESEARCH TO DEVELOP A BLOOD TB TEST.

• THE ASSOCIATION SPONSORED TWO REGIONAL VET AND DEER PRODUCER CLINICS IN THE EAST WEST OF THE STATE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OD DR. KAREN MARTIN AND DR. DEB LANDIS.

• THE ASSOCIATION PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED THE 2010 PDFA MEMBERSHIP RESOURCE DIRECTORY.

• THE ASSOCIATION CREATED THE CERVID LIVESTOCK REWARD FUND TO HELP PDFA MEMBERS BRING ANYONE VANDALIZING A CLO TO JUSTICE.

• THE ASSOCIATION RAISED AND CONTRIBUTED OVER $25,000.00 TO KEY LEGISLATORS IN HARRISBURG THROUGH ITS PAC FUND.

• THE ASSOCIATION PUT ON THE ANNUAL TWO DAY FALL BREEDER AUCTION AND TRADE SHOW IN JOHNSTOWN, PA. THIS YEARS AUCTION WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2010 AT THE ALTOONA BLAIR COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER.

• THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES A FREE MEAL AT THE ANNUAL SPRING BENEFIT AUCTION TO ITS MEMBERS AND SPONSORED GUESTS.

• THE ASSOCIATION SPONSORED AND ANTLER SCORING SEMINAR ALONG WITH SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL AT THE AMOS KAUFFMAN FARM

This is just a recap of what I call some of the big stuff. There was much more that was done in the last year to continue to move our industry forward and support the Association's membership. Our mission: To Preserve, Protect, and Promote the Deer Industry takes a lot of work. Thanks to all of you that volunteer your time.

Please mark your calendars for the Fall Breeder Auction and Trade Show September 10-11, 2010 at the Altoona Blair County Convention Center. I hope to see you there.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer.


Dave Griffith, President